News

Our 2023 Annual General Meeting will be held in person and via ZOOM on November 27 at 7PM.

The following documents are available for download and the AGENDA, BIOS and FINANCIALS are also presented below for easy access.

Agenda for AGM November 27, 2023

Hort Board 2023 Nominees Bios

Previous AGM minutes (November 28, 2022)

Financials for the year ended September 30, 2023

AGENDA

1.   Call to order of the 2023 AGM, Ron Charlemagne, President - Welcomes and introductions, Announcements

2. Report on quorum (20 members minimum)

3. Additions to /Approval of the agenda 

4. Approval of the Minutes of the 2022 AGM held November 28, 2022

5. Report of the President, Ron Charlemagne - Acceptance of the President’s report

6. Report of the Treasurer, Emieke Geldof - Acceptance of the Treasurer’s report

7. Appointment of financial reviewers for next fiscal year Sep 30, 2024 (Mary Mosser and Anne Wong)

8. Hand-over virtual gavel to Roberta Jennings, OHA District 15 Assistant Director. 

Elections to the 2023 - 2024 Board of Directors 

Re-standing at the 2023 AGM for 2023/24: Emieke Geldof, Clement Kent, Barbara Japp, Helen Vorster, Judy Whalen.

Completing 2^nd year of term: Annelies Groen, Ron Charlemagne, Misbah Mukri-Tasci

Call for further nominations 

9. Installation: Acceptance of the slate by the Membership

10. Return of Gavel and Adjournment of the 2023 AGM

11. Introduction of the Speaker 

BIOS FOR NOMINEES STANDING FOR 2023 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Re-election for another 2-year term:

Emieke Geldof

Member of the Hort since 1995; Board of Directors 2011 to present; Recording Secretary in 2015, Treasurer since 2017. Member of Communications Team (manages Hort website and email communications). Enjoys painting, canoeing, nature, and good food. Has worked as a teacher, bookkeeper, software tester, documentation writer, software trainer and support person, and currently is a freelance bookkeeper. Originally from New Zealand.

Barbara Japp

Member of the Hort since 2007. Board of Directors since 2007; Plant Fair committee 2008 to present; Communications Committee 2011 to 2018, Second Vice President 2011–2012, Newsletter co-editor Fall 2011 to Fall 2017. Co-President of Board of Directors with Diana Baxter 2013 to 2016. President of Board of Directors 2017–2018; Co-president Board of Directors 2019; Past President since 2020. St. George’s baskets volunteer, volunteer at CNE Garden Show. Volunteer at the OHA info table at the CNE and Canada Blooms. Volunteers at the Hort Show the Flag events. Plant Fair Committee.

Clement Kent

Founding member of the Parkdale Horticultural Society 1988. Clement Kent is adjunct professor of Biology at York University and a co-founder of the Parkdale Horticultural Society. He has helped lead the creation of several pollinator gardens by the Hort, as well as serving in most board positions, many of them several times. Vice-President since 2020.

Helen Vorster

Member of the Hort since 1994. Helped organize one of the early garden tours and wrote many of the speaker summaries for the previous Hort newsletter. Volunteer gardener at Kathy’s Garden at Stanley Park. Project Swallowtail member. Helen is an architect who works in residential and garden design with interests in sustainable design, natural landscapes, travel and art. Secretary since 2020.

Judy Whalen

Member of the Hort since 1991. Board of Directors since 1995; Treasurer 1998¬–2008; President of Board of Directors 1997 - 1999. Worked with Mari Lise Stonehouse on the speaker’s Programme 1997 to 2022, Community Garden Projects Coordinator since 1999; designed first website in 1999, Newsletter editor (1999–2003)

Completing second year of 2-year Term:

Ron Charlemagne

Member of the Hort since 2010; Board of Directors 2015 to present; Vice president 2017, 2018; Co-president of the Board 2019; President since 2020. Member of the Education and Outreach Committee, instituting the Info Table at the General Meetings. Knowledgeable in Horticulture and technical issues. Volunteers at the Hort Show the Flag events, setting up for meetings, and many other Hort events.

Annelies Groen

Member of the Hort since 2018. Experience in horticulture labour and landscape construction. Recent horticultural project: creation of a RAIN garden through a Master class. Proud host for the Swallowtail Project in the Annex. Professional background includes outdoor education workshops for primary teachers.

Misbah Mukri-Tasci

Member of Hort since 2022. Interested in helping to create and beautify community and public spaces. Supports the idea of access and encouragement for children to plant and learn about gardening. Resident of Roncesvalles Village since 2001. Changed our front and backyards from having only grass to perennial shade gardens, with some pollinators to help our friendly neighbourhood bees. Previous small business owner of children clothing store, Hoola Hoop Kids Store and children’s Theatre company, High Park Kids Theatre.

FINANCIAL REPORT

YES, the plant fair will be back this year, somewhat different than before. We are scaling it down from the usual 4 hour larger event by focusing on selling plants. We'll also have a garden-related jumble sale ("Green Elephants") with some information tables, but no vendors.

DETAILS: Saturday May 27, 2023, 10AM - 12PM Roncesvalles United Church, 240 Roncesvalles Avenue.

We will be ordering in choice and interesting plants from a select nurseries for resale, and are hoping members will contribute plants to be sold by growing vegetable, herb and annual seedlings in potting mix, as well as your houseplant offspring, and divisions which have to be specially prepared this year. WE NEED YOUR HELP, PLEASE.

CALLING ON DIVISIONS

Having lots of plants for sale is vital to the success of our Plant Fair. If you think you may be able to donate some plants to our sale, we will be so grateful!

Shoppers seem especially interested in native plants, pollinators, house plants of all kinds, tropical plants, hard-to-find-plants, and so on.

Plant division's from your garden will be accepted only under strict conditions. You’ve undoubtedly heard about the jumping worms. Clement Kent talked about this invasive pest that has the potential to change our indigenous boreal forests as well as our backyard soil. It is a very real threat to our ecosystem. Please read our article with info about Jumping Worms by clicking here.

Please let us know what you plan on contributing, so that we can anticipate the quantities and types of plants coming. Email us at plantfair@parkdaletorontohort.com.

When To Start Digging Divisions

NOW! Now is absolutely the best time to begin digging.

Remember, you'll need to bare-root your divisions this year: wash away all soil with your garden hose, and then pot up your plants in clean pots with store bought soil. We understand that this is a tedious extra step but it is absolutely essential for us all to do our best to minimize the spread of jumping worms. We can also provide you with soil and/or pots for free if you need it!

Label Your Plants

• Plant Name: plus, if you know it's a native plant, definitely say so!
• Type: grass, shrub, ground cover, flower, vine, tree, etc.
• Partial to Sun, Shade, or a Mix: you can just draw a circle - hollow circle is sun, filled in is circle is shade, and half-and-half is a mix — see image below.

• Flower Colour (if applicable)
• Size (if possible)
• An Image (if possible): BONUS marks to those who can print off an image of the plant in bloom or fully grown. Just google it! An image really helps give people a sense of what the plant will look like in time, and it makes it easier to sell.

Deliver Your Plants

Drop off potted-up plants on or before Saturday May 13, to Jessie's front porch — 49 Boustead Avenue (one block south of Bloor & Dundas).

For Plants Grown From Seed

If you've been growing plants from seed, these can be delivered directly to the Plant Fair venue (Roncy United Church) on Friday May 26th, between 6-8pm, or to Jessie's porch anytime that week.

Need a Hand?

Need help digging, dividing, root-washing (due to jumping worms), labelling, or transporting your divisions? How about help with repotting? Or do you just need some potting soil or clean pots? No problem! Contact Mary & Misbah by email at plantfair@parkdaletorontohort.com no later than Monday, May 8, and we will arrange help for you. Email us at plantfair@parkdaletorontohort.com.

CALLING ON GENTLY USED GARDEN SUPPLIES

Our Green Elephant Sale (a mini flea market specializing in garden and plant materials) needs your donations. This is your chance to purge, so do take advantage.

Examples of What We're Looking For:

• Gardening tools and pots (Please no plastic pots - they just don't sell)
• Garden ornaments of all kinds (Garden gnomes!)
• Bird houses & feeders
• Decorative vases & baskets
• Garden furniture (Metal and wooden items sell better)

Please give items a quick wipe or rinse, so that they are in clean, saleable condition. Please, no plant books or magazines this year.

Deliver Your Green Elephant Items

Drop off on or before Saturday May 20, to Mary’s front porch — 24 Abbott Avenue (a few blocks north of Bloor & Dundas).

Need a Hand?

Need help transporting your goods? No problem. Email us at plantfair@parkdaletorontohort.com.

LET'S GET THE WORD OUT!

Please help us advertise our upcoming amazing Plant Fair!!!

You can...

• Print and POST POSTERS for our event on standard paper (8.5x11): Download the poster here.
• Print, cut, and SHARE OR DROP-OFF FLYERS with your friends or at your favourite coffee shop: Download the flyers here.
• SHARE our event with your friends on social media:

o Facebook

o Twitter

o Instagram

HELPING HANDS

And if you haven't already reached out to us to volunteer at our Plant Fair or even just to help with some of the prep work ahead of the big day, be sure to email Misbah at plantfair@parkdaletorontohort.com.

We are holding our AGM in person and online, please see our November meeting info for details. Here are the AGM documents:

Agenda

Board Bios

2021 AGM Minutes

Financials for the year ended Sep 30 2022

Before WildApricot, The Hort used Squarespace for its website and MailChimp for its newsletters. WildApricot can do both of those things, and more — like membership management, event registration, etc. With this change:

• Everything is consistent across our communications.

• Everything is centralized.

Members will automatically get newsletters when they join. And stop getting newsletters when they lapse. Furthermore:

• WildApricot will send out emails reminding users that it’s almost time to renew, that it’s time to renew, that it’s past time to renew, that they already renewed, etc.

The old Squarespace site will be available at https://ephemeral.parkdaletorontohort.com/ for a few more months.

You get a chance to highlight your favourite plants or garden designs. Send photos to us, newsletter@parkdaletorontohort.com by Friday May 27. Please don't send video files - they're way too big. If you want to show us a video, please upload it somewhere like Youtube, and send the link to it to us as above. Video pointers: no longer than 5 minutes, please so we can accommodate everyone. Make sure you give the public permission to see your video or we can't show it!

What you show doesn't have to be from your garden or balcony, it could be from a trip you did somewhere. 

   

Lorraine’s presentation is based on the new book she and Sheila Colla have co-written that’s coming out in May: A Garden for the Rusty-Patched Bumblebee: Creating Habitat for Native Pollinators. In this talk, Lorraine explores some of the surprising corners of insect and plant relationships and how our gardens can support these dynamic interactions. Moving beyond charismatic species such as monarchs and milkweeds, Lorraine will share inspiring information about lesser-known creatures - moths, beetles and more - that are necessary for all life on earth, and how to welcome, not fear them in the garden.

Our 2021 Annual General Meeting will be held via ZOOM on November 29 at 7PM.

The following documents are available for download and the AGENDA, BIOS and FINANCIALS are also presented below for easy access.

Agenda for AGM November 29, 2021

Hort Board 2021 Nominees Bios

Previous AGM minutes (November 30, 2020)

Financials for the year ended September 30, 2021

AGENDA

1.   Call to order of the 2021 AGM, Ron Charlemagne, President - Welcomes and introductions, Announcements

2. Report on quorum (20 members minimum)

3. Additions to /Approval of the agenda 

4. Approval of the Minutes of the 2020 AGM held November 30, 2020

5. Report of the President, Ron Charlemagne - Acceptance of the President’s report

6. Report of the Treasurer, Emieke Geldof - Acceptance of the Treasurer’s report- Appointment of financial reviewers for fiscal year Sep 30, 2022 (Ingrid Whittaker and Patty McKnight)

7. Vote on the amendment to the Constitution (allowing business by Zoom)

8. Hand-over virtual gavel to Eleonora Schmied, OHA District 15 Assistant District Director

9. Elections to the 2021 - 2022 Board of Directors 

New nominations: Sarah Michelle Rafols

Re-standing at the 2021 AGM for 2021/22: Emieke Geldof, Clement Kent, Barbara Japp, Helen Vorster, Judy Whalen.

Completing 2^nd year of term: Annelies Groen, Ron Charlemagne

Call for further nominations 

10. Installation: Acceptance of the slate by the Membership

11. Return of Virtual Gavel and Adjournment of the 2021 AGM

12. Introduction of the Speaker Mari Lise Stonehouse

BIOS FOR NOMINEES STANDING FOR 2022 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

New Nominees for 2-year term:

Sarah Michelle Rafols

Member of the Hort since 2020, Sarah is interested in sustainable horticulture that builds and fosters community and biodiversity. Currently a horticultural technician journeyperson and the apprenticeship program manager at Landscape Ontario, she previously worked as an administrator, technician/gardener, groundskeeper, supervisor, and instructor in several green sectors, including green roofs and landscape maintenance. Sarah is a board member of the Ontario Parks Association Foundation and has been a volunteer at the High Park Nature Centre, LEAF, and Canada Blooms for over 10 years.

 Re-election for another 2-year term:

Emieke Geldof

Member of the Hort since 1995; Board of Directors 2011 to present; Recording Secretary in 2015, Treasurer since 2017.  Member of Communications Team (manages Hort website and email communications). Enjoys painting, canoeing, nature, and good food. Has worked as a teacher, bookkeeper, software tester, documentation writer, software trainer and support person, and currently is a freelance bookkeeper. Originally from New Zealand.

Barbara Japp

Member of the Hort since 2007. Board of Directors 2007 to present; Plant Fair committee 2008 to present; Communications Committee 2011 to 2018, Second Vice President 2011–2012, Newsletter co-editor Fall 2011 to Fall 2017. Co-President of Board of Directors with Diana Baxter 2013 to 2016. President of Board of Directors 2017–2018; Co-president Board of Directors 2019; Past President 2020. St. George’s baskets volunteer, volunteer at CNE Garden Show. Volunteer at the OHA info table at the CNE and Canada Blooms. Volunteers at the Hort Show the Flag events.

Clement Kent

Founding member of the Parkdale Horticultural Society 1988. Clement Kent is adjunct professor of Biology at York University and a co-founder of the Parkdale Horticultural Society. He has helped lead the creation of several pollinator gardens by the Hort, as well as serving in most board positions, many of them several times. Vice-President 2020 - 2021.

Helen Vorster

Member since 1994. Helped organize one of the early garden tours and has written many of the speaker summaries for the Hort newsletter. Dug and weeded for Kathy’s Grove. Has a small architecture firm that specializes in residential renovations and additions including garden design. Interested in sustainable design, maintaining our natural world, travel, art, and summers in Georgian Bay. Secretary 2020 - 2021.

Judy Whalen

Member of the Hort since 1991. Board of Directors 1995 to present; Treasurer 1998­–2008; President of Board of Directors 1997 - 1999. Works with Mari Lise Stonehouse on the speaker’s Programme 1997 to present, Community Garden Projects Coordinator 1999 to present; designed first website in 1999, Newsletter editor (1999–2003)

Completing second year of 2-year Term:

Ron Charlemagne

Member of the Hort since 2010; Board of Directors 2015 to present; Vice president 2017, 2018; Co-president of the Board 2019; President 2020 - 2021. Member of the Education and Outreach Committee, instituting the Info Table at the General Meetings. Knowledgeable in Horticulture and technical issues. Volunteers at the Hort Show the Flag events, setting up for meetings, and many other Hort events.

Annelies Groen

Member of the Hort since 2018. Experience in horticulture labour and landscape construction. Recent horticultural project: creation of a RAIN garden through a Master class. Proud host for the Swallowtail Project in the Annex. Professional background includes outdoor education workshops for primary teachers.

FINANCIALS